Match-box



F. J. KRISTOFEK.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY201I918.

Patented May 25,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO BROWN & BIGELOW,

OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

MATCH-BOX.

Application filed May 20, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. Kms'rornx, a citizen of the United States, residin at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and tate of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a, receptacle or match box which is particularly adapted to carry and conceal a series of matches which are bound together in a package having a paper cover and being of a well known safety type construction with a scratching surface formed on the lower portion of the outside of the paper cover. My receptacle or match box is of a thin flat construction which can be easily carried in the vest pocket and is adapted to completely conceal the package of matches when the box is closed or expose the matches in a convenient position when the box is open.

It is a feature of this invention to carry the series of bound matches in a convenient position on a partition in my match box so that the heads of the matches project upwardly when the box is opened and the heads of the matches are positioned at the free end of the partition to prevent the same from being heated or ignited b a cigar or cigarette when the same is lai upon the back of the partition when the box is in open position and the division wall or partition. is being used for a holding means while the cover of the box acts as an ash receptacle.

The principal features of .construction of my match box or receptacle are .the same as those illustrated and described in my patent application bearing Serial Number 166,057.

he features of construction and particular arrangement of parts will be more fully described and set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my match box in open position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe match box in open position as it will appear when it is being used to hold a cigar or similar article.

F i 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the match box in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a lon itudmal cross section of the partition or divlsion wall used in my inven tion.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Serial No. 236,240.

In the drawing A represents a match box having a cover B and a body portion O which are similar in dimensions so that the portion B forms one-half of the box and the portion U the other half. The portions B and C are pivotally connected by means of the hinge 2 and the portions 13 and C are of a rectangular shape with rounding corners and each having a shallow depth, thus forming a thin fiat receptacle or box when in closed position.

The hinge 2 is of a peculiar construction as illustrated. and described in my application hereinbefore mentioned being composed of the pintle 3 which is freely engaged by the pair of ears 4 and engaged under spring tension by the pair of ears 5. The pair of ears 4 are formed integral with the body portion C and the pair of cars 5 are formed integral with the cover portion B.

A partition or division wall D formed with curved ends 6 and 7 is adapted to normally be positioned and contained in the 1 cover B when the box is closed as illustrated in Fig. 3. The partition D is formed with a pintle engaging ear 8 which is adapted to be rigidly attached to the pintle 8, centrally between the ends of the same, while one of the ears 5 is positioned on one side of the ear 8 and one of the ears 4 is positioned on the other side. The pintle can be rigidly attached to the ear 8 in any suitable manner. The peculiar construction of the hinge 2 causes the ears 5 to engage the pintle 3 and rotate the same when the box is being opened and the cover B rotated causing the partition D which is rigidly attached to the pintle to rotate with the cover and in this manner the partition D is always rotated with the cover B unless the partition is engaged and held against rotation while the cover is being rotated.

The box A is formed with a suitable spring catch E of ordinary construction having a spring body portion 9 which is held in position in the body portion C of the box A by the inturned flanges 10 formed on either side of the body portion and the depressing tongue 11 which is rigidly attached centrally to the portion of the body 9, projects through an opening formed in the end of the body portion. The spring catch E is formed with the upwardly engaging tongue 12 which is formed in between the ends of the same and which is adapted to engage the flange 13 formed on the cover B to hold the box in closed position.

The partition D is formed with depressions in its body portion forming projecting lugs let which project upward from the back 15 of the partition D to form a holding means for the cigar, cigarette or article of similarnature when the partition is projected across the open portion of .the body 0, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the box A is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the cover B is adapted to form a receptacle or tray for the ashes from the cigar or cigarette.

The partition E is formed of spring material and is adapted to form a spring means to open the box A when the spring catch E is released, to automatically separate the free ends of the top and bottom of the box A, and to simultaneously project the free end of the partition D a short distance out of the free end of the cover B. The lugs 14: engage against the inner surface of the cover B when the box is in closed position as illustrated in Fig. l to space the partition D a short distance away from the inner surface of the cover B.

The partition wall D is cut away on its free edge and is formed with a centrally disposed inturned flange 16 which is adapted to engage the edge 17 of the paper holder F. which holds a series of bound safety matches 18 and which is of ordinary construction. The outer front free flap of the paper holder F is torn off to form the edge 17 The lower end of the holder F is engaged and held in position on thedivision wall by the sharp points 19 which are formed integral with the division wall D 011 either side of the ear 8 and project upwardly toward the body portion of the partition wall D. The match holder F can be easily attached to the partition D by forcing the lower end of the same against the sharp points 19 which pierce into the base of the holder F and by inserting the edge 17 under the flange 16, the holder F with a series of matches 18 is held rigidly in position on the division wall D. 1

The holder or cover F is formed with a scratching surface 20 on its base portion being of ordinary construction and which is completely exposed so that the entire scratching surface 20 can be used to ignite the heads of the matches 18 after they have been detached in the ordinary manner from the holder F. When all of the matches have been used up from the receptacle the stubs and back of the paper cover can be easily removed from the partition wall D and a new series of matches inserted or attached to the partition wall D.

The partition wall D normally follows with the cover B when the receptacle is opened, holding the matches exposed and in a convenient position to be used, as illustrated in Fig. 1, due to the peculiar construction of the hinge 2. \Vhon it is de sired to use the partition D as a holding means, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it is neces sary to engage the free end of the partition D while the cover B is held rigidly against rotation and the partition is rotated so that it will lie across the opening of the body portion C. IV hen the partition D is rotated in this manner the pintle 3 is also rotated in the pair of cars 5, which engage the pintle under spring tension and in the pair of cars 4: which loosely or freely engage the pintle. This peculiar construction of the hinge 2 allows the spring partition 1) to open the box, the cover B and partition D rotating the pintle 3 freely with approximately little or no friction in the ears -;lthereby allowing the cover B and partition D to travel ordinarily together.

It is an important feature to have the matches with their scratching surface fully exposed, when the box A is opened and the partition D constructed with means for holding the ordinary well known paper cover bound matches, similar to that illus trated in the drawing by the cover F.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a box having a cover, a body portion and a spring like partition hinged together at a common point, said spring like partition acting to open said box and means on said partition for holding a series of bound together matches to expose said matches when said box is open.

2. In a box having its members hinged together, a spring-like imperforate division wall hinged at the hinging point of said members and means formed on said wall for holding a series of bound matches with a. scratching surface fully exposed when said box is opened.

3. In a receptacle comprising members pivoted at a common point, a partition between said members having curved ends one of said. ends being pivoted at said common point, piercing means formed on the pivoted end ofsaid partition and a flange formed on the free end of said partition, whereby a series of matches bound together and held by a cover formed of thin sheet material can be held to said partition by said sharp means and flange to hold said series of matches in the recess portion of said partition formed by said curved ends.

at. A receptacle having two members of practically equal dimensions pivoted at a common point, a partition pivoted at said common point, a series of matches bound together between a cover formed of thin sheet material, sharp means formed on one end of said partition for piercing said cover of said bound matches and means formed on the other end of said partition for engaging the edge of said thin sheet matchcover, to hold said bound matches in exposed position on said partition when said members are open.

5. A box having a partition, lugs on one side of said partition for holding a cigar or cigarette to catch the ashes from the same in said box and means for holding a series of matches on the other side of said partition.

6. In a device of the class described comprising members pivotally hinged together at a common point, a partition having curved ends one of said ends being pivoted at said common point, a series of matches bound together on one end, a scratching surface on the said bound end, inturned sharp means formed on one end of said partition for engaging said bound together end of said matches and means formed on the free end of said partition for engaging said match holding means to hold said series of matches in position on said partition.

7. In a box having a cover and a body portion pivotally connected by a hinge, a partition in said box, an ear formed on said partition for rigidly engaging the pintle of said hinge, ears formed on said cover for engaging the said pintle under spring tension, ears formed on said body portion for freely engaging said pintle and means formed on said partition for holding a series of bound matches, whereby when said box is opened, said partition and cover will rotate together to expose said matches.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK. 

